Kostner needs to do either work with spins or change her combination in the SP. She is losing TES. Sotnikova needs a better combination than 3lutz+3loop. She underrotates a lot and not going to get any positive GOE because of ''e''. Wagner needs to do rotate her 3F+3T. Also can add more GOE for spins like Kostner. Suzuki only have 3T+3T so she can do 3F at the second half of the program for bonus maybe. If Kim,Asada, Lipnitskaia and Gold skate a clean SP one of those ladies won't be at the last group. This is a huge disadvantage. Julia and Gracie easliy can get 38+ TES If they don't make mistakes.

I agree with you. Bronze will probably go either to Caro or Ashley. If Yuna is back in shape she will win the gold medal. Mao silver.

Pressure will be too much for the Russian girls. Especially Adelina would not be able to handle it, but after seeing Julia in CoR, things don't look good for her either. They are both really young and to skate in the Olympics in front of your home crowd won't be easy.

Originally Posted by demarinis5

I think it will be a battle for third between Caro and Ashley. If they both skate well
I believe they are capable to challenge for the third spot on the podium. IMO they have
the experience and talent over the other contenders.

Of course this is just my opinion cuz anything is possible at the Olympics.

Some athletes, for instance, may suffer from an overflow of confidence that swamps their good judgment, forgetting that discretion is sometimes the better part of valor, and they end up making very bold attempts that were either beyond their capabilities or not necessary.

It's a tricky balance for athletes: too little confidence, and they "choke" under pressure. Too much confidence, and they take manically stupid risks.

There are possibly other mental states that come into play as well. For example, the ability to be clinical, to "step back" from emotions such as overweening desire, like the best surgeons do, may be an advantage in performance under pressure; on the other hand, too much detachment may rob you of the psychic motivation needed to attain peak performance.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the elements in the interior life of athletes that contribute to performance are probably more diverse and nuanced than you suggest.